Belted absorbent article

ABSTRACT

An absorbent article includes a belt and an absorbent structure. The absorbent structure is fastened to the belt via an article fastening means having a form such that the article fastening means does not fold or bend upwards under the forces present when the diaper is assembled.

TECHNICAL FIELD

The present invention provides an absorbent article comprising a beltand an absorbent structure. The absorbent structure is fastened to thebelt via an article fastening means having a form and orientation suchthat the article fastening means does not fold or turn up under theforces present when the diaper is being worn.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

Absorbent articles such as diapers and incontinence guards are worn byincontinent persons to manage body waste such as urine or faeces. Theygenerally comprise two important features: an absorbent structure whichabsorbs and manages the body waste, and components which keep theabsorbent structure in place on the body of the wearer under a range ofactivities (e.g. walking, sitting or lying down).

Diapers and incontinence guards can be classified according to theirstructure. Pant diapers resemble normal underwear, and are applied to awearer by being pulled up the wearer's legs, in the same way as regularunderwear. Traditional diapers have front and rear portions which arefastened to one another around the waist of the wearer.

Belted absorbent articles, such as belt diapers, have a belt which isfirst fastened around the waist of a wearer. Belted absorbent articlesare popular with incontinent adults as they can be changed by the wearerthemselves while standing up. After fastening the belt, the absorbentstructure is then brought between the legs of the wearer and fastened byarticle fastening means to the belt. In such articles, at least aportion of the waistband of the article only comprises the belt (i.e.the front and rear portions of the absorbent structure are not directlyfastened to one another around the waist of the wearer). The presentinvention concerns belted absorbent articles.

Examples of belted articles are provided in WO 02/05739, WO 06/065177,WO 03/017904 and WO 03/017903. GB 2 080 093 discloses a traditionaldiaper (i.e. not a belt diaper) which has strips of tape aligned in thedirection of the leg elastics.

Typically, little attention has been paid to the form and/or placementof the article fastening means used to fasten the absorbent structure ofa belted absorbent article to the belt. In the interests of simplicityand manufacturing efficiency, article fastening means to date haveusually comprised a square or rectangle of material which is applied tothe absorbent structure such that one edge is parallel to the front(longitudinal) edge or the transverse edge in the front region of theabsorbent structure.

However, the primary forces in the waist and hip region of such beltedabsorbent articles when being worn are directed from the hip region ofthe belt inwards and downwards towards the crotch of the wearer (seearrow X in FIG. 2). The article fastening means of the prior art are byno means ideal in such situations, and—under such forces—tend to foldupwards or be uncovered at their lower edges. This can lead to problemswith poor fastening ability, as the entire article fastening means isnot in full contact with the corresponding reception surface. Poorfastening in turn leads to poor fit and the risk of leakage.Furthermore, article fastening means which is exposed can fastenundesirably to the wearer's clothes or bedclothes.

There thus remains a need for a belted absorbent article in which theabove problems are addressed in a simple and effective manner.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

The present invention is based on the realisation that the form andalignment of the article fastening means are important for obtaining abelted absorbent article which poor fit, risk of leakage and undesirablefastening to other articles are reduced.

The invention thus provides an absorbent article, such as a diaper or anincontinence guard, said article comprising a belt and an absorbentstructure. The belt comprises an article reception surface. Theabsorbent structure extends in the longitudinal (L) and transverse (T)directions and has a longitudinal centre line (L1) and opposing firstand second longitudinal end regions. Each of said longitudinal endregions has a perimeter constituted by a transversely extending end edgeand a pair of opposed longitudinal edges. The first longitudinal endregion of said absorbent structure is attached to the belt.

The absorbent structure comprises at least one article fastening meansat the second longitudinal end region thereof, said article fasteningmeans adapted to fasten to the article reception surface on the beltsuch that the absorbent article adopts a pant-like shape in use. Thearticle fastening means has a substantially circular shape in the L-Tplane.

Suitably, the first longitudinal end of said absorbent structure isattached to the belt via at least one article fastening means located atthe first longitudinal end of the absorbent structure, said articlefastening means having a circular shape. Alternatively, the firstlongitudinal end of said absorbent structure is permanently attached tothe belt.

Preferably, the maximum extension of the article fastening means in adirection perpendicular to a force line (X) which passes through thecentre of the circular article fastening means and which makes an anglewith the longitudinal centre line (L1) of the absorbent structure ofbetween 5° and 85°, preferably between 10° and 80°, more preferablybetween 15° and 45° is less than 3 cm, preferably less than 2 cm, morepreferably less than 1 cm.

Suitably, the belt consists of article reception surface on thegarment-facing side thereof.

DEFINITIONS

The term “absorbent article” refers to products that are placed againstthe skin of the wearer to absorb and contain body exudates, like urine,faeces and menstrual fluid. The invention mainly concerns disposableabsorbent articles, which means articles that are not intended to belaundered or otherwise restored or reused as an absorbent article afterthe first use.

The “absorbent structure” of the absorbent article is that component ofthe absorbent article which receives and stores exuded bodily fluids. Assuch, it comprises at least an absorbent core. The absorbent structuremay be permanently attached to the belt of a belted absorbent article,or may be removably attached. Typically, the absorbent structure ismanufactured before being joined to the belt of a belted absorbentarticle. It therefore comprises a separate component of the absorbentarticle to the belt.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

The invention may be more readily understood by reference to theattached drawings which, by way of example only, schematicallyillustrate various embodiments of the invention:

FIG. 1 shows an open belt-diaper according to the invention, seen fromthe wearer-facing side and with all elastic components of the absorbentstructure fully extended;

FIG. 2 shows the belt-diaper of FIG. 1 in assembled form;

FIG. 3 shows a close-up of the second longitudinal end region of thearticle;

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

FIG. 1 shows an absorbent article 10 according to the invention, seenfrom the wearer—facing side (inside) and with all elastic components ofthe absorbent structure 30 fully extended. The article comprises a belt20 and an absorbent structure 30. In FIG. 1, the belt 20 is open.

In use, the belt 20 is fastened about the wearer's waist, where it actsto hold the absorbent structure 30 in place. The belt 20 of FIG. 1comprises two belt halves, 21, 22, although it is conceivable that asingle belt is present, which wraps completely around the waist of thewearer. The belt 20 of FIG. 1 also comprises belt attachment means 23which fastens to belt reception surface 25, so that the belt can befastened around the waist of the wearer. If the belt attachment means 23comprises hook material of a hook-and-loop (e.g. Velcro®) fastener, beltreception surface 25 suitably comprises loop material. Likewise, if thebelt attachment means 23 comprises adhesive material, the belt receptionsurface 25 suitably comprises a plastic film material to which theadhesive material can fasten, preferably in a releasable manner. Thebelt 20 may comprise a single length of belt material, to which theabsorbent structure 30 is attached, or may comprise two separate lengthsof belt material, each of which is attached to the absorbent structure30.

The width of the belt 20 should be between circa 50 mm and 250 mm. Thebelt 20 may comprise nonwoven material or plastic film, or laminatesthereof. In a preferred embodiment, the belt 20 comprises a laminate ofat least one nonwoven material and at least one plastic film. The belt20 may have elastic properties in at least one region thereof, and in atleast one direction, preferably in the length direction of the belt.Elastic properties may be provided by the use of one or more elasticcomponents, such as e.g. elastic threads, elastic nonwoven materials orelastic films. Belts 20 with elastic properties are particularly useful.The belt 20 is desirably breathable, and the material constituting thebelt 20 may be perforated or porous or the belt 20 may be spaced fromthe skin of the wearer by spacer fabric or spacer elements.

The belt 20 comprises an article reception surface 24, which ispreferably the same material as belt reception surface 25. Indeed, asingle reception surface (e.g. of nonwoven material) may constitute boththe article reception surface 24 and the belt reception surface 25. Thearticle reception surface 24 is located on the outside (garment-facing)surface of the belt 20 when worn. Article reception surface 24 and beltreception surface 25 may each comprise separate pieces of material whichare joined to the belt 20 during manufacture, or the wearer-facingsurface of the belt 20 may itself consist of one or both of thesereception surfaces 24, 25 (as shown in FIG. 1).

The absorbent structure 30 is the component of the absorbent article 10which receives and stores exuded bodily fluids. It extends in thelongitudinal (L) and transverse (T) directions as shown in FIG. 1, andmay have any suitable shape, e.g. rectangular, hourglass or T-shaped. Inuse, the absorbent structure 30 is located between the legs of thewearer so as to cover the wearer's genitals and anal region, and is heldin place on the wearer by the belt 20. The absorbent structure 30 has alongitudinal centre line (L1) about which it is symmetrical, andopposing first 31 and second 32 longitudinal end regions. Each of saidlongitudinal end regions 31, 32 has a perimeter constituted by atransversely extending end edge 33, 34 and a pair of opposedlongitudinal edges 35, 36.

Traditionally, belt diapers are applied to a wearer by fastening thebelt 20 around the wearer's waist, with the absorbent structure 30hanging downwards at the wearer's rear. The absorbent structure 30 isthen brought between the wearer's legs and fastened to the belt 20 atthe wearer's front. In this case, the first longitudinal end region 31of the absorbent structure 30 will comprise the rear portion of theabsorbent article 10, while the second longitudinal end region 32 of theabsorbent structure 30 will comprise the front portion of the absorbentarticle 10. However, the reverse situation is also possible.

In cross-section, the absorbent structure 30 usually comprises aliquid-permeable topsheet 38, a liquid-impermeable backsheet 39 and anabsorbent core 37 located between said topsheet 38 and said backsheet39. However, in certain absorbent structures 30, it may be sufficient toinclude only an absorbent core 37 and a liquid-impermeable backsheet 39.

The topsheet 38 of the absorbent structure 30 is the layer which lies incontact with the wearer's body when the absorbent article is in use. Assuch, it should be soft, non-irritating and comfortable against theskin, and bodily fluid should be able to pass through it withouthindrance. The topsheet 38 can consist of a nonwoven material, e.g.spunbond, meltblown, carded, hydroentangled, wetlaid etc. Suitablenonwoven materials can be composed of natural fibers, such as woodpulpor cotton fibres, manmade fibres, such as polyester, polyethylene,polypropylene, viscose etc. or from a mixture of natural and manmadefibres. The topsheet may further be composed of tow fibres, which may bebonded to each other in a bonding pattern, as e.g. disclosed in EP-A-1035 818. Further examples of materials suitable for topsheets are porousfoams, apertured plastic films etc. The topsheet 38 may be different indifferent parts of the absorbent structure 30.

The backsheet 39 of the absorbent structure 30 is the layer which liesfurthest from the wearer's body when the article is in use. To protectthe wearer's garments from soiling, it should be liquid-impermeable, butis desirably gas-permeable to allow air and vapour to pass in and out ofthe article so that the warm, damp conditions which can arise in adiaper are reduced. Typically, the backsheet 39 is of a liquidimpervious material, such as a thin plastic film, e.g. a polyethylene orpolypropylene film, a nonwoven material coated with a liquid imperviousmaterial, a hydrophobic nonwoven material, which resists liquidpenetration or a laminate comprising plastic films and nonwovenmaterials. Examples of breathable backsheet materials are porouspolymeric films, nonwoven laminates of spunbond and meltblown layers andlaminates of porous polymeric films and nonwoven materials. Thebacksheet 39 may be different in different parts of the absorbentstructure 30.

The absorbent core 37 of the absorbent structure 30 acts to receive andcontain liquid and other bodily exudates and can be of any conventionalkind. As such, it typically comprises absorbent material. Examples ofcommonly-occurring absorbent materials are cellulosic fluff pulp, tissuelayers, highly-absorbent polymers (so called superabsorbents), absorbentfoam materials, absorbent nonwoven materials or the like. It is commonto combine cellulosic fluff pulp with superabsorbents in an absorbentbody. It is also common to have absorbent cores comprising layers ofdifferent material with different properties with respect to liquidreceiving capacity, liquid distribution capacity and storage capacity.The thin absorbent cores, which are common in for example baby diapersand incontinence guards, often comprise a compressed mixed or layeredstructure of cellulosic fluff pulp and superabsorbent material. The sizeand absorbent capacity of the absorbent core 16 may be varied to besuited for different uses such as for infants or for incontinent adults.

The absorbent core 37 may comprise one or more layers which are designedto improve the handling of bodily waste. Such layers are designed toreceive a large amount of liquid in a short space of time and distributeit evenly across the absorbent structure 30. They may include so-calledtransfer, distribution, surge or acquisition layers, and are usuallylocated between the topsheet 38 and the absorbent core 37.

The topsheet 38 and backsheet 39 generally have a similar extension inthe plane of the article, while the absorbent core 37 has an extensionwhich is somewhat smaller. The topsheet 38 and backsheet 39 are joinedto one another around the periphery of the absorbent core 37, so thatthe core 37 is enclosed within the envelope formed by the topsheet 38and the backsheet 39. The absorbent core 37 is at least located in thecrotch portion of the absorbent article 10, and may also extend somewhatinto the front and rear portions. The topsheet 38, backsheet 39 andother components of the absorbent article 10 may be joined to oneanother by any means common in the art, e.g. ultrasonic welding, thermalwelding or gluing.

In addition, the absorbent structure 30 may comprise one or more elasticelements 50. These help the article 10 fit tightly against the body ofthe wearer, and are usually present as leg or waist elastic elements(shown as leg elastic elements 50 in FIG. 1).

The first longitudinal end region 31 of said absorbent structure 30 isattached to the belt 20. Attachment of the absorbent structure 30 to thebelt 20 may occur substantially in the middle of the belt, as shown inFIG. 1, or towards one end of the belt 20. The attachment may bepermanent—i.e. it is not possible to separate the first longitudinal endregion 31 of the belt 20 without tearing or otherwise damaging thearticle 10. Alternatively, the first longitudinal end region 31 of theabsorbent structure 30 may be removably attached to the belt 20 via atleast one article fastening means 40′ located at the first longitudinalend region 31 of the absorbent structure 30, said article fasteningmeans 40′ having the shape and alignment of the article fastening means40 as described herein.

The absorbent structure 30 comprises at least one (e.g. two) articlefastening means 40 at the second longitudinal end region 32 thereof.Preferably, the absorbent structure comprises two article fasteningmeans 40 at the second longitudinal end region 32, each of which islocated towards the transverse edge thereof. The article fastening means40 is adapted to fasten to the article reception surface 24 on the belt20 such that the absorbent article 10 adopts a pant-like shape in use(FIG. 2). As such, it may comprise a hook portion of a hook-and-looptype fastener (e.g. Velcro®), or an adhesive tab.

The present invention is based on the discovery that the form andalignment of the article fastening means 40 are significant forobtaining a secure fit and for minimizing the risk of the fasteningmeans being undesirably uncovered or turned up. As mentioned above, theprimary forces in the waist and hip region of belted absorbent articleswhen being worn are directed from the hip region of the belt inwards anddownwards towards the crotch of the wearer (see arrow X in FIG. 2). Theangle α made between the longitudinal centre line of the article and theforce arrow X typically lies between 5° and 85°, preferably between 10°and 80°, more preferably between 15° and 45°.

The article fastening means 40 of the invention has a substantiallycircular shape in the L-T plane, as shown in FIGS. 1-3. By“substantially circular” is meant that it may be oval, elliptical,egg-shaped, or a flattened circle. Preferably, though, the articlefastening means 40 has a circular shape.

The article fastening means 40 of the invention avoids the presence ofsharp (acute) angles in the region outside the force line (X). Thisreduces the tendency for the article fastening means 40 to turn up orbecome uncovered in use. The article fastening means 40 of the inventionalso reduces the extension of the article fastening means 40 in theregion outside the force line (X) as compared to article fastening means40 of the prior art.

The maximum extension of the article fastening means 40 in a directionperpendicular to a force line (X) which passes through the centre of thecircular article fastening means 40 and which makes an angle with thelongitudinal centre line (L1) of the absorbent structure 30 of between5° and 85°, preferably between 10° and 80°, more preferably between 15°and 45° is suitably less than 3 cm, preferably less than 2 cm, morepreferably less than 1 cm.

The invention has been described with reference to a number ofembodiments and accompanying Figures. However, the full scope of theinvention is determined by the appended claims.

1. An absorbent article, said article comprising a belt and an absorbent structure; said belt comprising an article reception surface; said article reception surface being located on the outside (garment-facing) surface of the belt when the article is worn; said absorbent structure extending in longitudinal and transverse directions and having a longitudinal centre line and opposing first and second longitudinal end regions; each of said longitudinal end regions having a perimeter constituted by a transversely extending end edge and a pair of opposed longitudinal edges, said first longitudinal end region of said absorbent structure being attached to the belt; said absorbent structure comprising two article fastening elements at the second longitudinal end region thereof, said article fastening elements adapted to fasten to the article reception surface on the belt such that the absorbent article adopts a pant shape in use; wherein said article fastening elements have a circular shape in the longitudinal-transverse plane.
 2. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal end of said absorbent structure is attached to the belt via at least one article fastening element located at the first longitudinal end of the absorbent structure, said article fastening element having a circular shape.
 3. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal end of said absorbent structure is permanently attached to the belt.
 4. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the maximum extension of the article fastening elements in a direction perpendicular to a force line which passes through a centre of the circular article fastening elements and which makes an angle with the longitudinal centre line of the absorbent structure of between 5° and 85° is less than 3 cm.
 5. The absorbent article according to claim 1, wherein the belt consists of the article reception surface on the garment-facing side thereof.
 6. The absorbent article according to claim 1, the absorbent article being a diaper or an incontinence guard.
 7. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the first longitudinal end of said absorbent structure is permanently attached to the belt.
 8. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the maximum extension of the article fastening elements in a direction perpendicular to a force line which passes through a centre of the circular article fastening elements and which makes an angle with the longitudinal centre line of the absorbent structure of between 5° and 85° is less than 3 cm.
 9. The absorbent article according to claim 2, wherein the belt consists of the article reception surface on the garment-facing side thereof.
 10. The absorbent article according to claim 3, wherein the belt consists of the article reception surface on the garment-facing side thereof.
 11. The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the belt consists of the article reception surface on the garment-facing side thereof.
 12. The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the force line makes an angle with the longitudinal centre line of the absorbent structure of between 15° and 45°.
 13. The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the maximum extension is less than 2 cm.
 14. The absorbent article according to claim 4, wherein the maximum extension is less than 1 cm. 